Canon's original Cinema EOS camera — the C300 that launched the EOS cinema line.
The Canon Cinema EOS C300 was released in 2011 as the camera that launched Canon's Cinema EOS line. Featuring a Super 35mm CMOS sensor designed specifically for cinema, it quickly became one of the most popular documentary and indie film cameras. The EF mount provided access to Canon's enormous lens ecosystem, giving filmmakers unprecedented lens choice.
Video quality was revolutionary for its time — the Super 35mm sensor provided cinematic depth of field and low-light capability that DSLR video could not match. Canon Log gamma enabled wide dynamic range for professional colour grading. Internal recording was limited to 8-bit 4:2:2 via MPEG-2 codec. External recorders enabled higher-quality capture.
Canon EF mount with cinema-specific modifications. Weight is approximately 1,430 grams body only. Build quality is professional cinema grade with modular design. The camera supports Canon EF, EF-S, and cinema CN-E lenses. Dual CF card recording. The original C300 recorded Full HD — the C300 Mark II added 4K in 2015.
Available on the used market at very low prices — two generations of successors have driven demand down dramatically. Check sensor, mount contacts, and recording functionality. Despite being outdated, the image quality remains usable for some applications. A piece of cinema history that changed the industry.